Neil Compton battened down the hatches for England as Wellington braced itself for a visit from Cyclone Sandra.

Following his maiden Test hundred in Dunedin last week, Compton ensured the loss of captain Alastair Cook - doing nothing to justify opposite number Brendon McCullum's pre-Test suggestion he's the best since Don Bradman - did not provide a gateway for New Zealand's bowlers to drive a coach and horses through England's middle order.

McCullum's sycophancy could not save Cook from a soft dismissal for 17, chipping Neil Wagner tamely to mid-on.

That left Cook with no fewer than 39 players between his Test batting average of 49.38 and the Don's record 99.94 - although the Brentwood Bradman had already seen through McCullum's transparent mind games.

Put in to bat on a still morning at a famously windy venue, England breezed to 75-1 off 28 overs at lunch, with Compton (34 not out) looking in the mood to clock on for the long haul again.

There was little urgency about England's batting, despite a long-range forecast which suggests Wellington's two-month drought will break, with the tailwinds of Cyclone Sandra heralding the arrival of heavy rain on Sunday.

But there were few alarms for Compton and Jonathan Trott (23no) as they repaired the potentially damaging blow of Cook's exit.

Click here for updates on the rest of the day's play - direct from the ground.